U.S.CONSUMER GROUPS SAY FEED BAN IS INEFFECTIVE

Ask FDA to tighten feed rule

Two U.S. consumer groups, both long-time critics of the FDA feed rule on ruminant feeding and the agency's enforcement of the rule, said the latest Canadian case of BSE shows the rule is not the "firewall" industry and government contend.

Consumers Union (CU) said the fact Canada has had three BSE cases in animals born after its feed ban was put in place is proof enforcement is lacking. CU was joined by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), which calls for FDA to tighten its rule to ban the feeding of plate waste, chicken litter and the use of blood products in feed. Further, CSPI said, feed mills should be required to dedicate equipment or entire mills to ruminant feed production.